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Brainstorming content ideas can seem like a chore, but when you create a process that works for you, I promise it won’t be difficult, and maybe even fun!
I’m honestly sitting here, feeling somewhat unqualified for this post – classic imposter syndrome. I don’t have a million followers, or page views, or whatever statistics that would maybe qualify me as a “successful” content creator. (That’s therapy for another day).
But what I do have is a long list of blog post ideas – more precisely over 150 ideas for long form content across 3 different brands – and this list keeps growing every week.
Although I know that I will not be using all of these ideas, having this list has made my life easier.
If you’re a business, blog or brand that markets online, having a long list of ideas in your arsenal is crucial to keep a consistent flow so that you can continue to grow and connect with your audience. It allows you have one less thing to worry about!
Sometimes, I’ll sit down to write, pick a topic but feel like I know less than I should, or it just seems like an inappropriate time to talk about it. It’s nice to have options.
Other times, I might do a little more research and realize, that the topic I wanted to write about might be over done or there’s too little search volume and I might want to consider a different topic.
Over time, brainstorming content ideas has gotten easier. But it wasn’t always this way.
Brainstorming new topics for my blog(s) has been a work in progress. It was really difficult at first. Sometimes I felt I had nothing to say, other times, I felt like none of the ideas were good enough.
Now that I have a brainstorming process for content creation, I also have a growing list of topics. Whether you’re creating new content for your blog, business, social media, or any other platform, these tips will make this process easier.
7 Tips to make sure you never run out of ideas for content?
If you’ve ever struggled to write a piece of content or seem to have no inspiration for anything new, these tips are here to rescue you!
#1: Write down every single idea, story or thought
The good, the bad, the best, the ugly, they are all valid for your own list of topics. You never know when they come in handy.
This list helps me build my monthly content plan so that I can make sure I have an even distribution of content accross my categories.
The list can that comes to mind – this way you’ll at least have a prompt
#2: Make your brainstorm list accessible
I have multiple places I jot down ideas:
- Notes app on my phone
- On Asana
- My bullet journal
- Notepad beside my bed (usually filled with inspiration from bedtime reading)
It’s good for me to have these different ways, because I want to make sure that these fleeting thoughts don’t escape me.
#3: Make it easy to save inspiration
I use Asana to actually plan my content, but I use Todoist as a quick spot to jot down ideas. I like to save blogs, articles, or even tweets that I feel might inspire me, or be relevant to my audience.
Apart from that, since I do spend a lot of time on social media, especially Instagram and Twitter. When I am on social media, I try to be intentional with my scrolling. I actively save or bookmark posts that I like, whether it is because the design was inspiring, or it might spark a future writing prompt.
You could also use an app like Evernote or physical post-it notes near your desk! The key to use something that makes sense in your workflow, and is never more than a few clicks/steps away.
#4: Set aside time to brainstorm
Usually I like to spend Friday afternoons, and Sunday evenings in planning /idea mode. This happens to be the time that I personally feel most creative. So I try to dedicate at least 15 minutes each week to just jot down ideas or flush out ideas from my list.
At first, I couldn’t come up with any ideas, or any ideas worth writing down. It seemed impossible! But over time, my brain has gotten used to thinking this way, and it is now my favorite time of the week!
#5: Create themes & structure
Is there a weekly or monthly series you can try?
Sharing your favorites on Friday, or Tips on Tuesday. Coming up with a framework like this, can help you structure your brainstorming process and make it easier to come up with new topics!
#6: Find your flow
For me, my best ideas come to me, when I’m sitting with a coffee or tea, in the afternoon, often outside, without my phone. I started to notice this pattern, and now I try to create my ideal environment every time I brainstorm.
Pay attention to your environment or time of day when you get your best ideas, and try to recreate that environment when you need to come up with new ideas!
#7: Brainstorm with intention
If you’re an online business, chances are content is essential to your brand or business. Brainstorming is like a muscle. The more you use it, the easier it gets to come up with new ideas.
Don’t just wait for inspiration. Be intentional about brainstorming new content ideas!
Schedule it in your calendar. Force yourself to sit down and actually write down your thoughts and ideas, without judgement.
Give it your best shot! And before you know it you’ll have a mile long list of content ideas, ready to go for your next post!
If you’re a content creator as well, I’d love to connect with you and hear about how you come up with new ideas for content!
Cheers,
